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Under Siege From Trump and Musk, a Top Liberal Group Falls Into Crisis

Scrambling to pay legal fees, Media Matters has dialed back its criticism, trimmed its staff and contemplated closing entirely.

© Gabriella Demczuk

Angelo Carusone, the president of Media Matters, at his office in 2019. The liberal advocacy group has been hobbled by a legal onslaught from Elon Musk and investigations by President Trump’s Federal Trade Commission and Republican state attorneys general.
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Big Law Firms Bowed to Trump. A Corps of ‘Little Guys’ Jumped in to Fight Him.

Solo practitioners, former government litigators and small law offices stepped up to help challenge the Trump administration’s agenda in court after the White House sought to punish many big firms.

© James Estrin/The New York Times

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Ben Jealous, Sierra Club’s Executive Director, on Leave After Rocky Tenure

Ben Jealous, who joined the environmental group in 2023, has clashed with some employees and the organization’s union.

© Craig Hudson for The New York Times

Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, at a climate rally in Washington in 2023. He is now on leave.
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